COLONIAL RIDING 



I HAVE been often asked about riding in the 

 colonies, and for an explanation of why, when 

 riding buck-jumpers, long instead of short stirrups 

 are used, and therefore I purpose to devote this 

 chapter partly to those phases of riding. 



In the colonies a horse is looked upon in an 

 entirely different way to which he is regarded in 

 Great Britain. 



Firstly, they are very cheap and there are plenty 

 of them. People have no time for careful train- 

 ing, and do not regard riding as a luxury, but 

 merely as a means for getting about. As long as 

 a horse is sufficiently docile, he is considered trained. 

 It must be remembered that all the young stock 

 run wild. They get no gentle handling accom- 

 panied by sugar and caresses like many youngsters 

 get with us at home. They run wild for some 

 time, and a man, when he first sees one, is a strange 

 and suspicious object. His suspicion is soon de- 

 veloped into positive dislike, not unaccompanied 

 by terror, because his first experience is that of 

 branding, and his second of castration. After 

 this insight into the apparent character of man, 

 his suspicions are confirmed, and he, not without 

 cause, regards mankind as his natural enemy. 



156 



